Things To Know About The GameThe Pirates are playing their final game prior to Christmas Saturday afternoon against Massachusetts (1:30 p.m./NO TV).
ECU and UMass share one common opponent this season, Charlotte. The Pirates lost at Charlotte, 76-64, on Dec. 1. The Minutemen will visit Halton Arena on Feb. 2.
East Carolina is 3-7 on the road in non-conference play since the start of the 2010-11 season with its wins coming against N.C. Central, UNC Greensboro and Georgia State.
The Pirates are 56-101 all-time against current members of the Atlantic 10 with over 56 percent (.564) of those games against Richmond (83). Charlotte (21) and VCU (23) account for 62 percent of its other games against A10 foes.
ECU has scored over 70 points in all five of its home games this season and allowed over 70 twice. ECU is averaging 80.1 points per game, while Gardner-Webb is averaging 63.8.
Both teams have been able to win the close games this season. The Pirates are 2-0 in games decided by three points or less and the Minutemen are 3-0 in those games.
ECU is making its first visit to a New England based school since 1999 (at Fairfield, ECU 92-89 ot).
East Carolina ranks among the NCAA Division I top 30 in four categories (as of Dec. 16): assist-to-turnover ratio (1.55/6th), fewest turnovers per game (10.9/15th), scoring offense (80.1/20th) and assists per game (16.9/21st).

Last Time We MetECU outscored UMass by 14 points in the second half but was unable to overcome a 22-point first half deficit and fell by five, 63-58. The Pirates struggled shooting the basketball from all areas: field goals (22-62, .355), 3-point field goals (5-24, .208) and free throws (9-23, .391). Maurice Kemp scored 12 points, while Miguel Paul and Shamarr Bowden had 10 points each. ECU trailed by 19 at halftime, 40-21.The Pirates got within one, 59-58, but never overtook the Minutemen.

Notes, Streaks And TrendsSenior Maurice Kemp ranks fourth in Conference USA in scoring with 17.1 points per game. He scored double figures in eight of nine games this season and recorded four double-doubles. Kemp has led the Pirates in scoring six times this season.
Junior Akeem Richmond is 11-for-24 behind the arc the last three games. He went 5-for-10 from 3 against St. Andrews and versus North Carolina. Richmond has been the team's leading scorer two of the last three games.
After beginning the season 3-of-17 behind the arc, junior Shamarr Bowden is 10-of-19 (.526) from 3 the last five games.
Sophomore Paris Roberts-Campbell has made a 3-pointer in six consecutive games.
The Pirates have two players ranked among the top 10 in Conference USA in rebounding: Robert Sampson (4th/9.4) and Maurice Kemp (6th/8.9).
Miguel Paul has more assists than turnovers in all seven games he's played this season.
ECU leads the league in turnover margin (+3.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). The Pirates rank sixth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Pirates recorded more assists than turnovers seven times in the first nine games.
The Pirates have had fewer turnovers than their opponents in four consecutive games and in eight of nine games this year.
After shooting a season-best 77.8 percent (21-27) at the foul line against North Carolina, ECU shot a season-low 51.8 percent (14-27) at the free throw line against Gardner-Webb.

Fast To 40Coach Jeff Lebo became the fourth fastest coach in school history to reach 40 wins. Lebo reached the mark in 74 games. Below is a list of coaches of reached the 40-win mark in the least amount of time:
1. Earl Smith (1947-48, 1959-61) - 62 games
2. Howard Porter (1947-50) - 67 games
3. Joe Dooley (1995-98) - 69 games
4. Jeff Lebo (2010-12) - 74 games

Up Next ECU will return to the hardwood on Saturday, Dec. 29 against Norfolk State inside Williams Arena at Minges. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women's team and is scheduled to begin at approximatley 5:30.>